Apparatus for synchronizing music and motion-pictures.



E. W. MYERS.

APPARATUS FOR SYNCHHONIZING MUSIC AND MOTION PICTURES.

Y APPLICATION FILED AUG-2| ISIS. 1,261,272.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR WM. MYERS, OF LOS GA'ICS, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO MASTEROLL IERFORAT- ING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA Specification in Letters Pattut.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

Application filed August 21, 1916. Serial No. 116,1 26.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR V. MYERS, a citizen oftthe United States, and resident of Los Gates, in the county of Santa Clara, and in the State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in A paratus for Synchronizing Music and It otion-Pictures, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The object of my invention is to secure accurate registry or synchronism of the exhibition or display of moving pictures and the musical accompaniment thereof so that the display of the pictures and the rendition of the music will be in correct relation. The \musical accompaniment, may, as is customary, be either a piano or; other key-operated instrument or an orchestra.' For the attainment of this object and also the attainment of the object by the simple and efficient mechanism, myinvention consists in apparatus having the characteristics of construction and function substantially as hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated apparatus embodying one form of my invention, and in such drawings Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in perspective of such apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation of the cireuit-closing device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig: 1 illustrating apparatus embodying the invention for the production of a mast/enroll.

Briefly described, my invention comprehends the operative association or connection with the projector machine of moving picture apparatus of a device for producing at regular and comparatively short intervals a signal, oi: indicating means for the musi cian whereby he is enabled to cause the rendition of the music in accurate time relation with the picture being exhibited. In what I now'coneeivc the best form of my invention such signal is an electric light which is at the desired intervals cut into and out of circuit and which light is located to be conveniently available to the musician and the turning on of which is in a predetermined relation to arhitn-iry marks, surh as stars, placed upon the perforated: music roll, if a mechanical player instrun pt is being employed, or upon the musical score or sheet 6- if the accompaniment is by an orchestra.

A portion of a moving projector machine 10 is shown in the drawing and to the main shaft 11 thereof 1 connect one end of 2!. flexlble shaft, or cable 12 whose other end is connected with a shaft 13 of a conveniently located-circuit opening and closing device 14: that is in circuit with an electric lamp 15, which in Fig. 1 of the drawings is shown mounted at the left (if the tracker board of a mechanical piano player 16. Preferably the connection between the flexible shaft 12 and the shaft 13 is by means of a detachable coupling 17. The shaft 1.3 is journalcd in hearings in the frame or casing of the device LL, and it has a worm 18 which meshes with a worm wheel 19, the worm. gearing being so proportioned in the case shown as to cause one revolution of the worm wheel 19 for sixt turns of the operating crank'of the pro ector machine. Of course, I do not limit myself to any particular proportions. I mention the proportion stated simply by way of illUStl:lfl0ll. The worm wheel 19 carries on its side a circular series of equally spaced projections 20, which as shown, are rollers and are four in number, and in the path of revolution of these projections is a spring contact finger 21, which, by" the-action of each roller thereon is pressed :1 inst a stationary contact finger 22, and e respective fingeis being in circuit with thelamp 15, the coming together of the two 3 fingers closes the circuit through the lamp and light it. As soon as the roller passes out of contact with the spring finger the circoil. is automatically broken. It will, therefore, seen in the proportion of gearing shown and with the four rollers the lamp willgbc lightedonce every fifteenseconds. 05 ()n' the left margin of the perforated music sheet 23, adjacent the lamp 15 and a! regular intervals apart, I place a. series of stars 24, or

other arbitrary marks, which, by the travels? of the perforated sheet hre'brought in sue- 19 6 cession adjacenttho lamp, at the time the lamp is l hted. The piano operator, there-3 fore, is ab e to cause the musical acc'ompani ment accurately to register with the .pro- 1- jection of the picture on the screen.

For the production of the master roll, in place of operating a light by the closin and opening of the circuit by means of the evice l4, I o )erate a punch that makes regularly, o1 unii ormly spaced holes in the margin of the master roll. Thu from these marginal perforations in the master roll the duplicate player operating rolls made therefrom are provided with the star, or other indicating device, for cooperating with the electric lamp. -An apparatus for providing the punches in the master roll is illustrated in Fig. 3, which, as shown, 'is the punching mechanism forming the subject of my United States application for Patent No. 875338 filed Dec. 3, 1914, the wires from the circuit closing device being run to a magnet which controls the operation of the star produci-n'g punch.

In preparing sheet music for an orchestra, the score is written from the roll and the marks on the sheet music cooperating with the lamp are placed on the music. In the use of sheet music the lamp is mounted on the music holding stand.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is- 1. The combination of motion picture exhibiting means, a si al producing device, a music sheet having indicm. at selected points with which the signal produced by said signal-producing device has a cooperative relation, and mean for periodically operating the signal, operatively connected with said picture exhibiting means.

2. The combination of motion picture exhibiting means, a si ial producing device, means for periodical y operating the signal, operatively connected with'said picture exhibiting means, and a music sheet having a series of indieia cooperating with said signal in succession.

- ing machine.

1,28 are 3. The combinatiton of a motion picture projecting machine, a signal producing device, a music sheet havin indicia at elected points with which the signal produced by said signalproducing device has a cooperative relation, and means for periodically operatin the latter, operatively connected with said machine.

4. The combination of a motion picture projecting machine, a signal producing device, a music sheet having indicia at selected points with which the signal produced by said si nal-producing device has a coopera tivc re ,ation, and means for periodically operating the latter, operative]; connected with said machine, and comprising a circuit closin and opening device.

5. The combination of a rotatin shaft of a motion picture projecting machine, a signal producing device, a music sheet having indicia at selected points with which the sig nal produced by said signal-producing device has a cooperative relation, means for periodically operating the latter, comprising a shaft-actuated circuit closer, and an operative connection between'such shaft and the shaft of the projecting machine.

6. The combination of a motion picture exhibiting machine, a musical instrument, a perforated sheet for actuating said instrument, indicia on said sheet, a signal having a cooperative relation with said indicia, a si al-actuating device, and means for. periodically operating said device operatively connected with said pictureexhibit- In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

EDGAR WM. MYERS. 

